[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO LOVELY HILL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2009

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Lovely 
Hill Baptist Association in recognition and celebration of its rich 
history and tremendous impact in South Carolina. On December 12, 2009 
this 108-year-old organization will celebrate Founders' Day for the 
very first time.
  This organization held its first meeting in 1901 at Lovely Hill 
Baptist Church in Smoaks, South Carolina. Three years later, they were 
chartered under the name of Lovely Hill Baptist Educational Congress to 
reflect their mission to provide for the education of African American 
youth who weren't allowed to attend public schools. In 1918 the group 
purchased more than 34 acres to build the first school for black 
children in the St. George area. Once public schools were integrated, 
the land was used for the county fair.
  In 1932, the organization's mission had grown, and to broaden its 
scope, officially became known as the Lovely Hill Baptist Association. 
Sixty years later, Lovely Hill Baptist Association was incorporated, 
and today, 22 churches are members. In 1999, the association broke 
ground for the construction of a new conference center on the site of 
the original school. Construction was completed in 2005, and today the 
facility provides a much needed center for community activities in St. 
George and surrounding areas.
  The association has several auxiliaries including the Sunday School 
Congress of Christian Education, the Lovely Hill Women's Auxiliary/
Young Women's Auxiliary, the Ushers' Convention, the Brotherhood 
Convention, and the Youth Convention.
  Over the years, a number of moderators have served the Association 
faithfully--Reverends Coger H. Haygood, J.M. Marshall, S.D. 
Rickenbacker, and T.E. Sanders. The current moderator of the 
Association is my good friend, Reverend Dr. S.B. Marshall, who is ably 
assisted by the 1st vice-moderator, Reverend McKinley Ravenel, and 2nd 
vice-moderator, Reverend Floyd Wright.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in 
recognizing this organization that has contributed so much to the faith 
community in South Carolina. For more than a century, the Lovely Hill 
Baptist Association has provided excellent spiritual leadership and 
Christian education to the citizens of my congressional district. I 
applaud their rich history and significant contributions to countless 
numbers of my constituents. And I congratulate them on their inaugural 
Founders' Day and wish them Godspeed!

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